*715879471 - Check-in Desks for RAF Brize Norton Terminal*

The Authority intends to award a contract to Robson Technology on a single-source basis in accordance with Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023 (additional or repeat goods, services or works), on the grounds that the requirement constitutes additional works that are intrinsically linked to, and cannot be practically or safely separated from, the existing passenger baggage handling installation.

The Authority has an additional requirement for four check-in desk modifications at the RAF Brize Norton passenger terminal. These works are a direct technical and operational dependency of the baggage handling equipment currently being installed by Robson Technology. They are required to complete end-to-end integration with the new baggage system, preserve compatibility with the associated electrical and control interfaces, and ensure that the modified check-in desk configuration supports the designed passenger and baggage flow through the PBH installation.

Awarding the requirement to an alternative supplier would introduce disproportionate technical, operational and safety risk. The check-in desk modifications are a critical enabling dependency for the safe and effective operation of the newly installed PBH equipment. Any delay caused by appointing and mobilising a new supplier would extend reliance on temporary mitigations, including the omission of a section of roller conveyor that renders one processing line unavailable until the desk works are complete. Although manageable for a short period, this mitigation reduces terminal resilience, constrains passenger throughput, complicates RAF Police baggage screening activity, disrupts aircraft loading operations and places avoidable pressure on the Station’s ability to achieve mandated aircraft handling capacity.

The required modifications have already been designed as part of the wider PBH project. Those designs informed the installation plans for the baggage handling system and are owned by Robson Technology. The intellectual property rights associated with these designs prevent their use by another supplier. Appointing an alternative contractor would therefore necessitate a new design phase, including further surveys, engineering assurance activities and system integration assessments. This would result in additional technical risk.

For these reasons, the Authority considers that the additional works cannot reasonably be separated from the existing contract without significant technical, operational and safety implications. The award of the additional requirement to Robson Technology represents the only viable option to ensure continuity of delivery, maintain operational capability and minimise risk to personnel and air operations at RAF Brize Norton.